Indian institutions like HDFC, ICICI Venture and Kotak Mahindra are launching funds to invest in real estate. HDFC, in association
with SBI and ICICI Venture, has already launched a real estate fund, while
ICICI Venture is also tying up with Tishman Speyer, one of the leading
owner-developer-operator of upmarket properties in the world.

Most of these funds have been meeting investment bankers, banks
and housing finance companies in India to get a feel of the market.
The developers are looking to tie up with Indian companies, while the
private equity funds seek to test the market with small investments in
big projects.

The developers are expected to bring in at least $100m. The pure private
equity players are expected to be passive players. They are likely to
take a smaller stake in specific projects along with an Indian real estate
developer. These investors would prefer board berths.

The combined investments by various groups into Indian
real estate market could go up to $1.5bn. Funds are looking at returns
of around 16-20%. The IT and Outsourcing boom in the country has raised
the need for quality commercial, residential, hospitality and health care
facilities as well

It is expected that the developers will bring in 10% of their own money,
and raise the remaining money overseas or in India. A group of NRIs has
raised $150m under the Indian Real Estate Opportunities Fund and are scouting
for projects in India.

HDFC, in association with SBI, has been raising Rs 750 crore with a greenshoe
option of Rs 250 crore for a real estate fund. It is
likely to invest in residential, commercial, and in IT properties. Kotak
is also raising a real estate fund while ICICI Venture is in the process
of raising Rs. 750 crore real estate fund.

In the health care segment, Singapore-based Parkways Hospitals has shown
interest. Gleneagles - a part of Parkway Hospitals - has a stake in the
Apollo Gleneagles Hospital.

According to the new FDI policy, up to 100% investment
will be allowed under automatic route in townships, housing, built-up
infrastructure and construction-development projects.

Construction projects would include hotels, resorts,
hospitals, educational institutions, housing and commercial premises.
The government has also reduced the minimum mandatory area to allow FDI
in real estate sector from 100 acres to 25 acres.